Lubricating system



Dec. 20, 1932'. c. w. MANzEL.

LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed April 6. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 20, 1932.

C. W. v MANZEL LUBRICATING SYSTEM Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES CHARLES w. MANznn, or BUFFALQNEW YORK LUBRICATING SYSTEM Application mea Aprn e',

, This invention relates generally to a lubricating system for machinery of various kinds, but more particularly to a centralized chassis lubricating system for automobiles, motor "'5 trucks andsimilar vehicles.

. The lprincipal object of the invention is to provide a lubricating system of this character having simple, eflicient and reliable means v whereby all the bearing points of the automobile'orother vehicle are thoroughly lubricated in a few seconds time directly from the drivers sea-t.

vAnother object is to provide a measuring unit or meter'punip for accurately measuring or controlling the amount of lubricant delivered under pressure to any onebearing or bearings in response to a single impulse of the operating pump.

lith the above and other objects in view, the invention' consists in the novel features of construction and .arrangement of parts hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings :d 1

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an automobile f chassis equipped `Vith my centralized lubricating system'. Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section of the operatingfpump taken on line 2-.2,`Fig. 1. .Figure 3 is an en- 2. Figure il. is an enlarged horizontal section of one of the feed distributing units or manifolds. Figure is an enlarged longitudinal section of the preferred form of measuring unit or meter pump. Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse sections on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 5. Figure 8 is a side velevation of the meter-pump piston-valve. Figs. 9, 10 andv V11 are longitudinal sections of modified forms of the measuring unit orV j meter pump. Figure 12 is an elevation of a modified form of meter pump piston-valve.

ijf..

Figure 13 is a sectional iew showing a different arrangement of the measuring units.

i Similar characters of reference indica-te corresponding parts throughout the several Yviews.

In its general organization, the various parts. entering into the lubricating. system,

include an operating pump 2O connected with larged horizontal section on line 3-3, Fig.

, thereto, which, as shown in Fig. 1, is

1925. semina 20,884. j

the lubricant supply of the vehicle-motor "for dellvering the lubricant underpressure Ato the various bearings and fastened to the vehicle frame 21 Vat a suitablepoint Where it^ can be conveniently controlled by the operator a plurality of distributing units or manifolds 22 in communication withthe pump, one being preferably located at-the rear end of the chassis for supplying the lubricant to the rear spring bearings and adjoining partsfco and two being located at the front end of the chassis for supplying the lubricant Vto the front'spring bearings, front axle and the various parts of the engine; and a plurality m of measuring units or meter pumps 23 for e5 regulating the amount of lubricant delivered to the various bearingpoints in response to a given impulse or stroke of the operating pump; v Y i l The operating pump shown in the draw- 70 ings, particularly Figs. 2 and 3, is fastened to the vehicle-frame below the floor-board 24, and preferably consists of a barrel or lcylinder 25 having its ends internally-threaded to receive upper and lower screw plugs or caps 26, 27, respectively, the lower plug containing anoutlet passage 2 8 and having pipes or conduits 29 connected to opposite sides l thereof and leadingV to the distributing units. 22. Operating in the cylinder is a hollow` piston .orplunger 30 normally held in its elevated position by a spring 31, while a plunger-rod 32 extending through the upper cylinder-plug 26 above the floor-board and abutting at its lower end vagainst the upper Vend of the plunger serves to force the latter downwardly in its-cylinder to discharge the lubricant therefrom under pressure. A packingnut 3,3 prevents leakage ofthe lubricant into the'car-body and a foot-engaging knobgo 34 is applied to the upper end of the vplunger forconveniently actuating it. Near its upper end the cylinder hasan oil-inlet passage B5 to which oneend of a coupling-sleeve 36 is con- .nected, the other end thereof Vserving as a means for fastening a suitable oil filter V37 connected bya pipel y38 with the circulating oil pump 39 of the vehicle. The kplunger-is provided in -its reduced head 40 with one or more inlet 100 ports 41, which in the normal elevated position of said plunger, as shown in Fig. 2, are disposed opposite and in line with the cylinder inlet 35. A downwardly-openiiig checkvalve 42 controls the admission of the oil into the plunger-bore and cylinder, a spring 43 bearing at its upper end against the valve and at its lower end against ahy-passed plug` 44 tending normally to hold said valve closed. This valve-spring is comparatively light so that the valve will open when the oil is being circulated in the engine by the pump 39, which usually developes a pressure of approximately 25 pounds. operating stroke of the plunger, the valve 42 remains closed and the oil Ycontained in the cylinder'is forced under pressure through its outlet passage 28 to the pipes 29 leading to the various distributing units 22 and thence through pipes 45 connected to the various measuring units 23.

Each distributing unit or manifold preferably consists of a block-like fitting 46 having a threaded-stem 47 at one end for fastening it to the vehicle-frame 2 1. In its body, this tting has an oil-receiving chamber 48 to the inlet end of whichthe `correspondingr Y pipe 29 is connected, as by clamping nut 49'. Screwed into transverse openings 50 intersecting the manifold-chamber are suitable couplings 5 1 to which are connected the inner ends of the pipes 45leading to the measuring units.

In the preferred construction of the measuring units or meter pumps, shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 andS, each consists of a nipple or fitting 52 which has a threaded stem or neck 53 at its outlet end for attaching it to the bearing-point, while fastened to its opposite or inlet end lby a clamping nut or sleeve 54 is the outer end of the corresponding supply pipe 45 Vleading from the distributer. EX- tending lengthwise of the nipple from the inlet end thereof vto a point near the outlet end thereof is a cylindrical bore 55 and connecting the latter with the outlet end of the nipple is an outlet p'ort 56 controlled by a forwardly-opening check valve 57, preferably in the form of a triangularly-shaped disk, normally held closed by a spring 58. -Operable in the nipple-bore is a hollow pistonvalve or plunger 59, which is closed at'its rear end and open at its front end, a spring serving to hold the same in its retracted or normal position shown by full lines in Fig. 6. In this position, said piston-valve bears against the front face of a ported plug 6l screwed into the rear end of the nipple and containing a filtering screen 62 for the oil. The piston-valve is provided in its eX- terior face with comparatively-shallow oilconducting passage or channel 63 through which the oilfrom the pipe 45 is Vdelivered intol the measuring chamber 64 formed by I the hollow piston and that part of the nipple- On the down orbore in front of the latter. As shown, this oil conducting passage 63 is preferably in the form of a spiral groove extending around the piston-valve from its front end to a point short of its rear portion or head 65, which is ungrooved and serves to close olf said passage and prevent the admission of oil to the measuring chamber shortly after the pistonvalve starts its forward movement to eXpel the lubricant from the measuring chamber into the respective bearings. At its rear or inlet end, the nipple-bore terminates in a counter-bore or enlargement 66 into which the oil is first delivered before being conducted through the spiral' opening formed between the piston-valve and the nipple-bore. On the return or backward stroke of the piston-valve, a vacuum is created in the measuring chamber and the oil is drawn into the saine through the spiral port. The enlargement 66 of the nipple-bore into which the head of the piston-valve and the adjoining end of its spiral groove normally projects, as shown in Fig. 5, not only allows the quick return of the piston-valve but permits the prompt relling ofthe measuring chamber. The head of the piston-valve has a transverse groove or passage67 in its facerfor facilitating the discharge of oil from the inlet end of the nipple into its enlarged bore 66, and also for drawing the oil into the latter after the piston-valve returns to its normal position.

As shown in Fig. 6, a tubular guide or stem 68 is provided for properly centering the piston-valve spring 60, said guide projecting partly into the piston-valve and also constituting a passage establishing communication between the measuring chamber 64 and theoutlet port 56. Located at the bottom of the nipple-bore 55 and surrounding the Vspringguide is a packing or washer 69 forming a seat against which the open end of the piston-V and everybearing connected to the system.V

The pressure created in the various supply pipes 45 after each impulse or down-stroke of the pump-plunger forces the corresponding piston-valves 59 of the respective nipples 52 forwardly or downwardly to expel the oil contained in the corresponding measuring chambers 64 through their tubular stems 68 and outlet ports 56 into the respective bearings of the vehicle. During the initial forfili-8,9

:` ward; movement ofothe. piston-valveg-.and ibe- 'ore its fheadi entersV theicyl-inder 55,.,Some oil ,isf delivered into` the measuri ng f chamber `througlr the spiralgroove onV said valve.

' .Before the flatter; reaches-'theV end fof-rits stroke,-however, itsuhead 65 enters thebore ly-fon the expulsion ofoil `from said chamber.

,.0nzthe return strokeothe pisto1i-;\al ve, 1. -Whicl'i 'is .aiitomaticallyj effected aftertthe.` foot :isf-removed from the plunger-rod: .'knob,l .and

after the piston valve-head 65 passesrinto the enlarged .bore-66 .of the; nipple, x the oil contained insaid bore is "then sucked-.for -draivn-,through the spi-ralgg-roove `-of-Lthe piston-valve into the measuring .chambery the amount of-oiladmitted being substantialy,ly-.equal to that previously expelled. .It will .-.be.noted,' that the meter units or nipples have a .pump-like action., expelling the oil from the --measuring chambers inV response yto. Yeach ...downward impulse of the .pump-plunger-SO andagain refilling. said' chambers onthe-repractice, themeasuring chambers -are of. a

. size to-deliver, say, from 6 to 8 drops ofol at a given impulse 4of the pump-plunger.

. The spiral formation of-thejoihconducting groove -in the -relativelyshort piston-,valve provides a comparatively-.large port. areafor the admission of 011 into the measur- -ng' chamber on the return stroke -of the valve, while on the initial forward -or operating. stroke of the latter,` this spiral-groove 4and the -oil `contained therein resist more or less thebyassing of thefoili nto said measuringchamber.

,grooves mayT be varied .as to their-lengthand It is to -be understood-.thatfthespiral area, dependingon the density or. viscosity of the lubricant and. also on; the number. oi'

ffeed units-employed in order 'toydeliverfa predeterminedamount of lubricant to the bearings, as may be required.

Iii-.the modified-form of the nipple shown n vin Fig. 9, the -piston-valve 70- is smooth-faced and the bore of the nipple is .provided-With a spiral oil-conducting, groove 71.- yOther- Wise the constructionis identicalswiththe preferred Atype `of nipple previously-described. 1 f

-The modification illustrated in Fig. l0

. eliminates the check-valve .forcontrolling the'. oil outlet port 56. In this case, the rear end of the piston-valve 72 has a reduced head ,oil into the nipple-bore.

pumps arefconnected to a 4distributer fitting new f3 :.75 .liauinga commongoil inletzcom'municatging-with? thetransverseAV ports'j? 7f-,openingi into the pump Acylinders,--78 rformed-in said :fitting :and-.each containing., the .meteringnnits which --are '-identicalein. vconstruction with that: shown? 70 win Fig'. 5. f Theou-tletendsfo these units paire isuitably-connectedby pipes 79rvvith the-reg spective-bearings tobe lubricated.

yIn'the modifiedconstruction of the. pistonvalve shown in Eig.- l2, the samexconsists of avi-T175 .-cylindrica-l-.body-'SO having a spiral oilconducting groove -81 extending fromy end to fend y of the valve. In thisjcasen-aswellfas -in the arrangement-1 of'the yspiral-groove 71in the nipplfefbore-shown in Fig. 9, arelatively quick-3580 impulseto theipump-plunger BO-is preferable, so that during vthe-resulting quick-or continuous `forward -movement of --the piston-valve 'inf its c ylinder,` thespiral groove and the oil :conta-ined therein act to eiiectually-resist the5-5 -by-passingof--the oil into the measuring chamber.- f i --Instead off-using the--distributer units 22 and applying the-metering pumps Vor nipples 52 directly tothe bearing-points in the man-i590 Iner illustrated -in- Fig., l, a plurality ofthe nipples may-,be attachedto 'a suitable fitting 82:-` containing .an =,oilreceiving- .chamberr or channel 83 connected 'with the-pump" 20- -by a --pipe 84. This-fitting is -fastened' to. thef 1e-@95 hicle-frame Where it is centrally located relatively to!` a givennumber-of bearings. Asv showm-the nipples are. preferablyarranged .one above ythe other",l their "attaching V ends 85 -eligaging threaded-openings 86; in they sides-i100 Walls fof .the fitting.. fllhe--reargends` 'off the piston-valvesj59 project-across the oil--cham- Y .ber- -81- and -may .beg provided -vvith suitable bosses 87 for `hold-ing' the sameV a suiiicient disj tance' r-from the -chamberwall V-to permit theil05 -oil- 1under' pressure toact-on.` A`said pistonr-valves and kmove them `vforwardly-to expelthe n oil from their measuring-chambers. The outlet A-ends of. the ynipples .52am connected by pipesSS With the-bearings Which-are equippedillo n :with suitablecouplings 89-containing spring- =-pressed;checkivalves 90to fretain the oil in the 1- e. It 'will be, understood from the) foregoing that various other modifications can be-V made115 Within the scope andspiritor` the appended -claims, and Ifdol` not therefore: wish tobe limited'V tothe particular construction and arrangement of .upartsf herein shown fand defscribed.

I-claim-as- Inv-invention.: [LA lubricatingsystem for the bearings -of motor vehicles and the likefcomprising a pump for delivering li'ibricant.- under` pres- --suretofthe bearings,and nipples applied vtof-F3125 the bearings and f each includinga :measur- VingY chamber.. for; the lubricant having ,antinletconn'ected;y with 1 the --pump and, an foutlet, .-,anct aported valve -slidable :in said ichamber for. controlling-.the admission fand dischargeraao of'lubricant to and from the same, the operating stroke of the pump moving the ported- `valve in a direction "to expel the lubricant lfrom its chamber and the return stroke therebearingsand leach including a cylinder having-an enlargement 'atits rear end communieating with Vsaid pump and an outlet at its Vfront end, a piston-valve operable in said cylinder and having a lubricant-conducting groove in its exterior faceextending from the front end to a point near its rear end and normally opening into said-cylinder-enlargement, the piston-valve being moved forwardly in its cylinder at each operating impulse of the pump and the ungrooved rear portion of said valve forming a closurev for preventing the flow of lubricant into the cylinder during the major portion of its operating stroke, and'means for yieldingly moving the piston-valve rearwardly in its cylinder.

` 3. A lubricatingsystem of the character described, comprising a pump for delivering lubricant under pressure to the bearings,

bearing-nipples applied to said bearings and' each including a measuring chamber for the lubricant having an inletconnected with the pump and an outlet, a piston-valve slidable in said chamber and having a port inV its exterior' face 'extending substantially from end to end thereof for conducting lubricant from the inlet end of the measuring chamber to the interior thereof in front of said pistonvalve, the piston-valve being moved forwardly in its measuring chamber on the operating stroke of the pump, and a spring for normally holding said piston-valve against the inlet end of said chamber, theport of the piston-valve terminating short of its Vrear end to prevent the flow of lubricant through the same during the major portion of the forward stroke 0f said piston-valve.

4. A lubricating system of the character described, comprising a pump for delivering lubricant under pressure to the bearings, nipples applied to said bearings and each including a cylinder having an inlet connected with said pump and an outlet, a piston-valve operable inthe cylinder and-having a spiral groove in its face'for conducting the oil from the inlet to the outlet end of said cylinder, the

space between the outlet end of said cylinder and said piston-valve constituting a measuring chamber from which the oil is expelled when the piston-valve is moved forwardly in response to the operating stroke of said pump, means for cutting off the iiow of oil to said chamber at a predetermined point in the operative stroke of the piston-valve,the latter being free to move the balance of its stroke to expel the lubricant-from its chamber, and a spring for moving said piston-valve rearwardly in its cylinder, the lubricant being sucked into the measuring chamber from the inlet end of said cylinder thro-ugh said spiral groove on the return stroke of the pistonvalve.

5. A lubricatingsystem of the character described, comprising a pump for delivering lubricant under pressure to the-bearings, nipples applied to said bea-rings and eachV including a cylinder having an inlet connected withL said pump andan outlet, a hollow pistonvalve operable in the cylinder, said valve being closed at itsrear end and open at its front end and having a spiral groove on its face for conducting the oil from the rear end of the cylinder to the front end thereof, said cylinder and the hollow portion of said pistonvalve constituting a measuring chamber from which the oil is expelled when the pistonvalve is moved forwardly in response to the operating stroke of the pump, a packing at the forward end of the cylinder against which said piston-valve is adapted to seat and forming 'an oil-tight seal, a spring for moving said piston-valve rearwardly in its cylinder, and, means at the rear end of the latter against which said valve normally abuts.

6. A lubricating system of the character described, oomprising a pump for delivering lubricant under pressure to the bearings, nip-A Y ples applied to said bearings and each including a cylinder having an enlargement at its rear end communicating with said pump and an outlet at its front end, a piston-valve operable in saidfcylinder and having a spiral groove in its face extending fromthe front end thereof to a point near its rear end and normally opening into said cylinder-enlargement for conducting the lubricant from the latter into the cylinder, the piston-valve being moved forwardly in its cylinder at each operating impulse of the pump, and the ungrooved rear portion of said valve forming a closure for the cylinder during such operating stroke, and means for yieldingly moving the.

piston-valve Yrearwardly in its cylinder.

7 In a lubricating system for motor vehicles, the combination .with the circulating oil pump thereof and a plurality of bearings to be lubricated, of a. booster-pump connected with said circulating pump for increasing the l ressure thereof, and a plurality of nipples for said bearings connectedwith said boosterpump, and each including an oil-receiving chamber having an inlet, an outlet and means insaid chambers for controlling the admission of a predetermined quantity ofoil to the bearings at each impulse of the'booster pump, the circulating pump being incapable of governing Vtheilow 'of-oil 'to'y the bearing nipples.

8.- In a lubricating-systemi form'otor vehicles,l the 'combination with the circulatingY oil pump thereof and a plurality of bearings tobe llutiricate'd,` of bearing-nipples appl-iedto said bearings and eachincluding a measuring v :chamber having an inlet, van outlet and a piston-'eperatedfval-ve for controlling the admission and expulsion of oil to `and: rfrom said' chamber, 'and a Amanually-operated booster pumpv interposed between said circulating *pumpfand' said-V bearing nipples and controlling said piston-valves.

9. A-'lubricating attachment, comprising abdy containing a lubricant chamber having Van inlet and fan outlet, a Apiston-valve oper- ""able'in'saidchamber by lubricant pressure and-having va -spi-ralgroove onitsexterior face for establishing communication between the chamber-inlet and that portion -of the chamber in front ofthe piston?` valve, said ?"spiral` groove constituting a -resistanceelementlforpreventing theflo'w of lubricanttol said chamber during the forward stroke of the piston-valve anda yieldablepacking at-4 V `the outlet end of said chamber againstwhich tering-plug fitted insaid inlet, a check ported piston-valve operable in said chamber between the inlet and outlet' ends thereof,v

said spi-ral'lportbein'g formed inthe exterior face of `the valve and being restricted in size imand constituting'a ytime'element for'predey termining the amount of lubricant delivered through' said port, aspring for normally holding said valve against said filtering-plug,

andmeansfor cutting ofthefadmissionof flubrcant to said chamber after the discharge of far predetermined quantity of lubricant therefrom.-

11. "A "lubricating attachment, comprising' a body containing a lubricant chamber hav,-I -inganfinlet Aand anoutlet, saidchamber terminating-atits inlet end in an enlargement, and a piston-valveoperablein saidl chamber for controlling the admission and expulsion-1 of` lubricant to andl fromi the same, said valve having a lubricant-conducting groove inv its' faceextending from its frontend to a point 1` near the rear-end thereof and normally opening-finto said" enlargement, the ungrooved rear portionof said valve normally extend- BllingY into said chamber-enlargement and serving-in its abnormal position shutoff the admission of lubricant to said chamber in front" of i the'fpiston-va'lve.'

l 1215A "lubricating attachment, comprising ffa bodyf'containinga lubricant *chamber -hav- .ing-an inlet andan outlet, said. chamberterminating at its Vinlet end in an enlargement,-V

a piston-valve operabl'e'in said chamber forcontrollingithe admission and expulsion of lubricantto' andv from'the 'same,said valve having a lubricant-conducting groove' in .its vface extending .from its front end to a point4 near the rear end thereof and normallyopen-"f4 ing into said enlarge-ment', the ungroovedrrear:

portionof said valve normally extending into said chamber-enlargement andservin'gif in its abnormal positionto shut off the ad-I mission 'ofiubri'cant `to said chamber vin fronti of 'the 'piston-valve, and a check-'valvefapplied to theoutlet end v0f said lubricantchamber.v`

13. A.' lubricating. attachment, a body containing a lubricantv chamber -havvsof comprising.y

ing. an inlet and an outlet and terminating at its inlet end in an enlargement, anda piston-valveoper'able 1n said chamber and having fa spiral, oil-conducting gro-oveV oIrits-exterror face normally opening at one end-into' i said enlargement, the piston-valve having fa portiin its head for establishing .communication between the chamber-inlet and its enlargement.

la. lA lubricating attachment, comprising#A a body containing a lubricant chamber havingl an inlet Aand an outlet,`a spirally-ported'pis- 95` l`v ton valve roperable in said-chamber between l the inlet 'and' outlet ends thereof, seats' at' oppositeV ends of said chamber vfor limiting-ff the stroke of the piston valve, the seat attheV outlet end of the chamber'being engaged byl said piston valve at the end of its forwardlf` stroke! to seal the admission'of'oiltofsaidfY chamber, and a spring for.normally-holdingM the-valve against the inletv end of the chamber.`

ing an inlet and an outlet, said chamber teri minatingaty its inlet end in an enlargement and at Yits outlet end in a valve-seat,and a piston valve operable-in VsaidI chamber'for" controlling the: admission and expulsion 'of face opening at its frontend into said chamberand atits' rear end into said chamber-v lubricantto and from'the same, said valve" havlng aflubricant-conducting groove inits enlargement, said valve-seat being engaged bysaid piston at the end of its forward stroke toyseal `the admission of lubricant 'to saidchamber.V

16. In Ya lubricating system for motorvehicles', the-combination with a source of lubricant supply and a plurality of bearingstov" Ybe^lubricated,"`of a plurality of-nipples for'4 said bearings and each including a -measur'-"12'5` ing chamber having an inlet, an outlet land la pistonroperated valve having a restricted passage formed betweenthe contiguous faces" of'said1 chamber and saidV valve for control- -ling the' vadmission and expulsion of 'apredelori' 15 Av 'lubricatingl attachment, v comprising.' 1; a fbody containing a lubricant chamber'ha/v-v termined quantity of lubricant to and from said chamber, said passage constituting a combined resistance and time element for predetermining the amount of lubricant dellivered through the same, and a pump conally-ported valve member for controlling the expulsion of a predetermined quantity of lubricant to its respectivebearing, and a manually-operated booster pump interposed between said circulating pump and said bearing nipples.

18. A lubricating attachment, comprising a body containing a lubricant chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said chamber terminating at its inlet end in an enlargement, and a piston-valve operable in saidv chamber for controlling the admission and expulsion of lubricant to and from the same, the front portion of said valve extending into said chamber and constructed to provide a lubricant passagebetweenthe contiguous faces ofthe valve and the/chamber for normally establishing communication between the Vfront end of said chamber and its enlarge-l ment, thel rear portion of said valve normally i extending into the chamber-enlargement and serving in its abnormal position to shut ofl` the admission; of lubricant to said chamber in front o-f the piston-valve.

19.` A lubricating system for the bearingsv of motor vehicles and the like, comprising a pump,A for .delivering lubricant under pressure to the bearings and nipples applied to the bearings and each including a measuring chamber `for the lubricant having an inlet connected with the pump and an outlet, the inlet end of said chamber terminating in yan enlargement, a valve slidable in said chamber forcontrolling the admission and discharge oflubricant to and from the same, the operating stroke of the pump moving the valve ina direction'to expel the lubricant from the chamber` andthe return stroke thereof moving said valve in the opposite directionwto draw. the lubricant from said chamber-enlargement between the contiguous faces of the valve and measuring-chamber into the latter, and a spring for normally holding said valve in its retracted position wherein the front portion of the valve is arranged to establish communication between that portion of the chamber in front of said valve and said chamber-enlargement, the rear portion of said valve normally extending into the enlargement and arrangement ,to Venter theV chamber proper duringthemagorportion of its operating stroke to shut .olfthe admission of lubricant .to said chamber in front of the valve, Y Y l 20. A, lubricating attachment, comprising a body containing a lubricant chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a piston-valve operable in said chamber for controlling the admissionY and expulsion of lubricant to and from the same, and a constricted helical lubricant-conducting passage formed between the piston-valve and its chamber, said passage constituting a resistance element andv terminating forwardly of the rear end of saidvalve for preventingthe admission of lubricant to said chamberV during the major portion of the forward stroke of the valve and for effecting a comparatively slow travel of the lubricant through saidl passage to said chamber on the return stroke of the valve.

2l. A lubricating attachment, comprising a body containing a lubricant chamber havlubricant under pressure and an outlet, a

Ving an inlet adapted to communicate with V piston-valve operable in said chamber for Y controlling the admission and expulsion of lubricant to and from the same, said valve being moved forwardly in the chamber by the lubricant under pressure to expel its charge, a spring for moving said valve rearwardly in its chamber to effect the replenishing of such chamber, and a helical lubricantconducting passage formed between the piston-valve and its chamber, said passage constituting a resistance element and terminating forward of the. rear end of said valve for preventing the admission of lubricant to said chamber during the majo-r portion of the forwardostroke of thevalve and for effecting a comparatively slow feeding of the lubricant through said passage toV said chamber on the returnV strokeV of the valve.

22. A lubricating system for the chassis A bearings of motor vehicles comprising a 'source of lubricant supply, a pressure pump having its inlet connected to'said supply source and a plurality of lubricant conducting units applied to the chassis bearings and in connection with the pump outlet, each of said units containing a measuring chamber and a valve Velement having a spiral passage for delivering a predetermined quantity of lubricant to its bearing on theforward stroke of the pump and for replenishing said chamber with lubricant on .the return strokes of the pump, and a liltering element for maintaining said ter.

bearings of motor vehicles comprising a source of lubricant supply, apressure pump having its `inlet connected to saidsupply source and a plurality of lubricant conducting units applied to the chassis bearings and in connection with the pump outlet, each of said units containing a measuring cham;

passage free from foreign mat- 23. lubricating system forthe chassis c ber and a valve element having a spiral passage for delivering a predetermined quantity of lubricant to its bearing on the forward stroke of the pump and for replenishing said chamber With lubricant on the return strokes of the pump, and a check valve for preventing flow of lubricant from the unit when the pressure is removed.

24. A lubricant feed unit for the chassis bearings of motor vehicles, comprising a body containing a lubricant chamber having an Y inlet and an outlet, a threaded attaching stem at the outlet end of said body and a coupling union at its inlet end adapted for attachment to a lubricant supplyV pipe, a spirallyported resistance member disposed in said chamber for predetermining the amount of lubricant delivered to the bearing, a filtering element fitted in the inlet end of said body and about the discharge end of said supply pipe, and a check valve for normally preventing leakage of lubricant from the dis'- charge end of the body.

25. A lubricating system comprising, in combination, a source of lubricant under pressure, conduits leading therefrom to a plurality of bearings to be lubricated, a metering device adjacent each bearing, said metering devices being constantly in communication With said source of lubricant under pressure, the pressure exerted by said source being incapable of operating said device and manual means adjacent said source of lubricant under pressure to increase the pressure on the lubricant in said conduits and thereby actuate said metering devices.

CHARLES W. MANZEL. 

